Rally Japan: Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais kick things off

Barely six months after the last appearance of the WRC In Japan, the world's best rally crews are back in the Land of the Rising Sun this weekend for the seventh round of the 2026 World Rally Championship, the last of the season on asphalt. This Thursday morning, starting at 08:01 a.m. local time (in the middle of the night in France), the Shakedown took place. rally on a short 2,53 kilometer special stage: Kuragaike Park. Winners of the previous edition, Sébastien Ogier Vincent Landais wasted no time getting going. The reigning World Champions set the fastest overall time in this Shakedown with a 1:55.3, ahead of Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin in 1:56.3 and local star Takamoto Katsuta, accompanied by Aaron Johnston, in 1:56.7. Three Toyota closely followed by a fourth GR Yaris Rally1, that of Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen.

Rally Japan: Hyundais already falling behind, Gryazin on top in WRC2 during the Shakedown

We have to go back to the fifth level of the hierarchy to find any trace of the first Hyundai i20N Rally1, the one fromAdrien fourmaux and Alexandre Coria, with a time of 1:57.4. Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson only managed the seventh fastest time of the day, behind Josh McErlean and Eoin Tracy, the winners of the Rally of Portugal. Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, then the third Hyundai of Hayden Paddon – John Kennard and finally the second Ford Puma Rally1 of M-Sport led by Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne. As for RC2, without any big surprises, WRC2 favorites Nikolay Gryazin – Konstantin Aleksandrov (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale) set the best time in the category ahead of Romet Jürgenson – Oja Siim (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Alejandro Cachón – Borja Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2).

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WRC – Rally Japan
The Shakedown Rankings